Montoya loses crucial game but still emerged champion

CEBU, Philippines - After sweeping his first eight assignments, Montoya played with high morale in the ninth round only to be stunned by Balbona in their King's Indian game.

Montoya and Balbona then saw themselves in a three-way tie at the top of the standings with Ronald Ganzon, who also finished with 8.0 points after beating Bonn Rainuld Tibod in his last match.

Of the three front-runners, however, Montoya flashed the biggest smile after he was declared as champion by virtue of a superior tie-break output applying the direct encounter, Bucholz, Sonnenborn Berger and Median Bucholz systems.

Montoya pocketed P6,000 for his feat, while Ganzon and Balbona took home P4,000 and P2,000 for placing second and third, respectively.

NM Merben Roque, who ended his campaign with victory over Yves Christian Fiel, ended up with 7.5 points in a tie with Rogelio Enriquez, Jr. but Roque took the fourth spot also via a higher tie-break points.

Rounding up the top 12 finishers with 7.0 points each were Richard Natividad, Anthony Makinano, Erwin Ababat, Bonn Tibod, Joel Pacuribot, Allan Pason and Reynaldo Flores.

Yves Christian Fiel, Mario Mangubat, Carlos Moreno III, Diego Abraham Claro, Rhenzi Kyle Sevillano, and Venancio Loyola, Jr. occupied the 13th to 18 spots with 6.5 points, while Rommel Ganzon and Bryle Arellano completed the top 20 list.

Held in memory of the late Cebuano sportsman Roger Abella, the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP)-sanctioned tournament was made possible through the support of Rose Pharmacy, Inc. through longtime chess patron Boogie Lim and Elizabeth Mall.

The two-day event was organized by Four Central Squares Chess Association (FCSCA), which is under the auspices of NCFP, with FIDE Arbiters Felix Poloyapoy, Jr. and Marvin Ruelan supervising the games. (FREEMAN)